Lewis scopield



(NoModeL) L. SCOFIELD.

Metal-Gross Tie for Railways. No. 230,826. Patented Aug. 3,1880.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR: @004, fW/QW J M ATTORNEYS.

MPETERS PHOTD-UTMOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICEO LEWIS SGOFIELD, OF OHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

METAL CROSS-TIE FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,826, dated August 3, 1880.

Application filed June 15, 1880. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEWIS SGOFIELD. of Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Metal Gross-Ties for Railroads, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to furnish a durable cross-tie of metal, to which the rails may be readily connected or removed therefrom, as desired.

My invention consists in a rolled iron or steel tie of U form, attached in reversed position, by angle-irons, upon a supporting bedplate, and titted with adjustable clamps upon the upper side for receiving the rails, all as hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved cross-tie. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 is an end view of the same. Fig. 4: is a view showing the outer clamp and its rib to engage the notch of the rail.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The body A of the tie is made of steel or iron rolled in U shape in cross-section, and ot' the required length. This shape gives a tie having flaring sides a of suitable depth, and with a broad top, I), of sufficient width to form a secure bearing for the rails. The body A is attached with the U reversed upon a bed-plate, B, by plates 0 0 of angle-iron, that are riveted or bolted to the plate B and sides ca. To the plate B, at the ends of the tie, there are attached angle-iron plates (1, which form flanges extending downward across the tie. These will enter the ground, and will generally be used only on curved track, to prevent the. tie from shifting or turning.

Upou'the top a of the bodyA are attached the clamps c c andff that hold the rail. The inner clamps, 0, are metal plates, formed with raised ends, for setting upon the flange of the rail, and permanently attached to the tie by rivets. The outer clamps, f, are similar, but are attached by screw-bolts and nuts, so that they are separable from the ties to permit the placing or removal of the rails. The bolts may be readily inserted, as the holes in the top a. are accessible at all times through the open end of the tie.

In using these ties, the plates B will rest on the road-bed, and the ballast can be tamped closely beneath the plates, so that the tie shall be firmly supported.

These ties may be readily and cheaply constructed by ordinary machinery for rolling iron.

To prevent the rails from creeping, the clamps fmay be formed with lugsf, as shown in Fig. 4, which lugs enter slots formed in the rails.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The railroad tie consisting of the rolled metal body A of U form, secured in reverse position by angle'irons c to bed-plate B, substantially as described.

LEWIS SGOFIELD.

WVitnesses J. H. RAGSDALE, L. O. GARRABRANT. 

